TikTok, the popular short-form video sharing app, has been facing a series of controversies and regulatory scrutiny over its handling of user data and content moderation. The company has been accused of exposing children to inappropriate content and violating user privacy. Now, the app’s top safety executive in the US, Vanessa Pappas, has announced her resignation.
Pappas joined TikTok in January 2021, as interim CEO, after the departure of Kevin Mayer. She then moved to the role of general manager for North America before being appointed as the head of TikTok’s US trust and safety team in June 2021. Pappas was responsible for overseeing the company’s content moderation policies and user safety initiatives.
The news of her resignation comes just weeks after TikTok was fined $2.5 million by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations of violating children’s privacy laws. The FTC claimed that the app failed to obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from users under the age of 13.
TikTok has been under intense scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators in the US and other countries over concerns about its data privacy and content moderation practices. In addition to the FTC fine, the app has been banned in India and faced threats of being banned in the US by the Trump administration over national security concerns.
Pappas’ resignation has raised concerns about the future of TikTok’s trust and safety efforts. The company has been working to improve its content moderation practices and user safety initiatives, including introducing new features to protect minors and removing harmful content. Pappas was a key figure in these efforts, and her departure has left many questioning TikTok’s commitment to improving its safety measures.
In a statement announcing her resignation, Pappas said, “As TikTok continues to grow rapidly around the world, our team has also grown and evolved. I have decided that it is time for me to step away and focus on new opportunities to drive impact and growth.”
TikTok has not yet announced who will replace Pappas as the head of its US trust and safety team. The company has also not commented on the reasons for her resignation.
The resignation of TikTok’s US trust and safety chief comes at a critical time for the company, as it faces increasing pressure from regulators and lawmakers to improve its content moderation practices and user safety initiatives. It remains to be seen who will take over Pappas’ role and how the company will address these concerns going forward.
